The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-06-04
Complied for The ArkdnSdC Trdreler. SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

DIdZll, lCCOIuS IIOIl IlteSu sldtIOHS now being regularly communicated to the observatory of Rio Janeiro
 A source of serious errors in analv- sis has been pointed out by French chemist, who finds that filter-papers are often charged with chemicals that may be washed into the solutions til- tered.
 Two astronomers of the Grand Du- cal observatory, Carlsruhe, have made the remarkable observation that the disc of the planet Uranus appears dis tinctly elliptical instead of perfectly circular.
 A complete systematic botanical survey of India is to be made. The country has been divided into four great districts, in each of which the work has been placed in charge of botanist familiar with the region.
 The London Geological Society re- ports that at the close of 1886 it had in its collection total of 2.609 ani- mals, of which TT were animals, 1,429 birds, and 403 reptiles. Many of the animals have been bred ill the society's gardens.
 The possibility of premature burial has been considered so great bv the Madrid authorities that the municipal cemetery has been provided with an electrical signaling apparatus which will notify the officials of the slightest movement in any coffin in the receiv- ing vaults.
 The abuse of alcohol, tobacco. opium and quinine seriously affects the sight. but tea has not been considered liable to have such influence. The greatest ot Russian tea merchants, M. Molcha- noff, has, however, been seeking treat ment in Paris for weakness of vision induced by the prolonged practice of tasting.
 Besides it's usual temperature and rainfall observations. the New England Meteorological Society has on hand for this season two special investiga- tions-the thunder storms in New England, and the sea-breeze on the Massachusetts coast. The former in- quiry is in its third year, the latter is now undertaken for the first time.
 Many artificial tlavoring extracts are used ill foods and drinks, such as amylic valerianate, amvlic butvrate. propylic ether, and caprylic alcohol. which initiate the odor and flavor of the apple, the pear, the pineapple, the strawberry and the raspberry. Their substances have been tested bv the French chemists, who find them pois- ! onouS in considerable quantities, but harmless in the usual small doses.
 A firm of Birmingham music deal CTS was lately required to tune an organ to accord with piano in Nose ley. It was impracticable to bring the instruments together, but happy plan was at length stumbled upon. X note of the piano was struck in front of telephone, and the sound was so accurately transmitted to the distant tuner that he was soon able to accom- plish his task, and the organ was sent in season for its intended use with the piano in concert.
 An interesting series of experiments has been made by Dr. J. w. Fraser on the influence of our common bever- ages on digestion. Among these drinks he finds that water is usually the best. Of infusions. tea or cocoa acts most favorably when bread is eaten, and coffee is the best for use with meats or eggs. Eggs are the best animal food with infused bever- ages. and should be soft boiled when tea is the beverage. and hard boiled with coffee or cocoa.
 Pneumonia Explained.-It is gen erally supposed that pneumonia is due to the accidental penetration of spe- citic microbes into the system, but the of NJ. Jaccoud. a French student of the subject, show that the disease really results from the devel- opment under favorable conditions of microbic germs permanently present in the system. A chief condition of such development is sudden chill. which explains the frequent coinci- dence of lung affections with abrupt changes of temperature.
 Painlessness of Throat Cutting The victim of despondency who hacks at his throat in persistent attempt at suicide probably inficts much less self-torture than we have been wont to suppose. Several years ago Prof. Brown-Sequard announced that stimulation of the larynx pro- duces complete loss of sensibility to pain in the body. He has since ob- served thata similar, though slighter, effect may be given by irritation of the windpipe or even of the skin GOV ering the throat. By hundreds of ex- periments, especially on dogs and monkeys, this eminent pathologist has demonstrated that. after simnlY cut